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Barrett Taken On Trial As County Seconds Chase Last Four SpotSunday, May 20th, 2018

Worcestershire Seconds are giving a trial to MCC Young Cricketers batsman Joe Barrett as they look to seal a place in the semi-finals of the Second Eleven Trophy with victory over Lancashire Seconds at Barnt Green tomorrow (Monday).

Coach Alex Gidman had a first hand look at Barrett when he scored 85 and 54 in the recent drawn Championship match with the Seconds at High Wycombe.

Then the 22-year-old did even better with a superb 173 not out in the Trophy against Leicestershire Seconds at Lutterworth.

Gidman said: “He is on trial, very much so. He got 170 two or three days ago against Leicestershire and a couple of 50 plus scores against us last week.

“Joe is someone we are keen to have a look at and we will see what happens.”

The Seconds are in prime position to go through to the last four despite last week’s setback against Durham at Hartlepool.

Gidman said: “The lads have worked extremely hard in the Second team and played some really good cricket and fully deserve to be in the position they are in.

“They are excited, I’m excited and it is a great opportunity but what we need to do is what we have done in previous games and just focus on our performance.

“If we do well, I’d like to think we will give ourselves a chance of winning the game but there is no point in looking too far ahead.

“It’s just about performing on Monday and enjoying it and trying our best to win.”

Worcestershire also played Lancashire in the final group game of last season and lost by one wicket to miss out on a last four spot by the smallest of margins.

Gidman said: “Hopefully the lads learnt something from that game, I’m sure they did, hopefully that will give us an advantage in terms of their development since then.

“I’d like to think every game has an element of pressure in it because we are constantly trying to evolve and trying to improve and learn.

“This is an opportunity to reach a semi which would be great but the danger of all these things is we look too far ahead and it’s really important that we focus on what we need to do, what we’ve done well and try and repeat that and improve it.

“On the whole we have played really well in this competition and won some games in different ways which is what has probably impressed me and the other coaches the most.

“They’ve all been different and really applied themselves. I’m delighted for the group that have played a lot of the games that they are in this position.